Bifold door hardware



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Aug. 15, 1967 ANDERSQN ET AL 3,335,785

' I BIFOLD DOOR HARDWARE Filed Aug. 24, 1965 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2, fin WW) HUI] 555" H 44; E n,

invenffor sz Ralph F. Anderson Edward HWebsfer Aug. 15, 1967 R. F. ANDERSON, ET AL 3,335,785

B I FOLD DOOR HARDWARE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Au 24, 1965 PIC-1.6-

' ,LKnv emkQr S: Ral h F'Flndenson Edward M. Webster- :1 WWW Iran] a Flfforne ys United States Patent 3,335,785 BIFOLD DOOR HARDWARE Ralph F. Anderson and Edward M. Webster, Rockford, Ill., assignors to National Lock Co., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 482,096 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-206) The present invention relates to folding doors and more particularly to novel hardware providing pivotal mountings for the folding doors. 7

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel pivotal mounting for the outer edge of one of the folding doors whereby these doors may be folded from their closed aligned co-planar relation into open position in which the door panels are disposed in folded adjoining relation.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel upper and lower pivotal mounting for one or more hinged door panel units suspended from an upper track whereby the panels of each unit are readily and easily moved from a closed to an open position for access to an enclosure.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel mounting for pivotally supporting one of a pair of door panels including a pivot pin and bearing mounted in an upper track or channel for suspending the door panel unit, and a novel means for and manner of retaining the pivot pin within its bearing mounted in the track.

The present invention further comprehends a novel bracket assembly mounted on the side jamb of an opening for which the door panels provide an enclosure, said bracket assembly providing a novel pivotal mounting at the base of a door panel.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a bifold door assembly including a pair of hinged door panels and a portion of the adjacent panel of a second pair of hinged door panels with the panels arranged in closed position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the upper track with its contained upper bearing assembly, and the upper pivot plate assembly with its pivot pin projecting through the open channel of the track and mounted and retained in the upper bearing.

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a 'plane represented by the line 33 of FIG. 1.

' FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the upper bearing.

FIG. Sis a view in side elevation of the upper bearing.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the spring clip for retaining the flanged end of the upper pivot pin assembled in the upper bearing.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the spring clip.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower jamb bracket assembly and showing the manner of mounting the lower end of the pivotally mounted end panel to the lower portion of the adjacent side jamb.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the lower jamb bracket. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view taken in a plane represented by the line 1010 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the bearing of the lower or jamb bracket assembly.

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FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the lower bearing of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the lower bearing plate.

FIG. 14 is an end elevational view of the bearing plate.

FIG. 15 is a view in side elevation of the guide assembly aflixed to the top edge of the second or inner panel.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the novel bifold door hardware disclosed is for a folding door assembly comprising two or four folding door panel units or multiples thereof, FIG. 1 disclosing a unit comprising door panels 10 and 11 hingedly connected at 12 upon a vertical axis and a portion of the inner panel 11 of an adjoining unit, the end panel 10 being pivotally mounted at its upper inner edge by a bearing assembly 13 enclosed in a downwardly opening channel or track 14, and at its lower edge pivotally mounted on a jamb bracket assembly 15 affixed to the adjacent vertical jamb A defining one side of the door opening, the jamb bracket assembly 15 having a substantially L-shaped bracket 16 with its horizontal end projecting beneath and spaced from the lower edge of the end door panel 10.

The inner door panel 11 has affixed to its upper edge a guide assembly comprising a roller plate 17 affixed to the upper edge of the door by screws 18 and having at one end a flanged pin 19 affixed thereto and mounting a rotatable cupped guide member or roller 20 of a diameter projecting upwardly and conformably received between the edges of the spaced flanges 21 of the track 14 for longitudinal movement in the track.

The upper bearing assembly 13 comprises a bearing 22 formed of a suitable plastic composition such as nylon having at one end a vertically extending cylindrical opening 23 opening into an enlarged cylindrical recess 24 at its lower end conformably receiving the head of a screw or bolt 25, and at its upper end provided with an enlarged polygonal recess 26 conformably receiving a polygonal nut 27. Adjacent to but spaced from. the opening 23 and its opposite recesses 24 and 26, the bearing 22 has an elongated recess at 28 to receive an upwardly projecting pivot pin 29 having an annular enlargement or flange 31 at its upper end and its lower end 32 staked to the center of a pivot plate 33, the latter being aflixed to the upper edge of the end door panel 10 adjacent the vertical edge 34 of this door by screws 18 and spaced from the vertical jamb A. The interior of the bearing at its other end .is

recessed to provide a ledge or shoulder 35 having a vertical opening 36 therethrough to conformably receive the pivot pin 29, and an annular slot or groove 37 to conformably receive the flanged end 31 of the pin 29.

The pivot pin 29 when assembled in the bearing 22 is projected into the recess or hollow portion 28 of the bearing and moved laterally into the opening .36 in the ledge or shoulder 35 with the flange 31 of the pivot pin 29 seating in the annular slot 37. To retain the pivot pin assembled in the open slot 37, the invention provides a spring clip 38 having its outer end provided with a vdepressed annular flange 39 defining an opening through which upwardly projects the threaded shank of the screw or bolt 25. This outer end of the clip is retained against the shoulder or base of the recess 26 and between it and the polygonal nut 27 on the screw. This spring clip 38 is depressed at 41 and at its inner end provided with an offset or shoulder 42 bearing against the top and peripheral edge of the upper flanged end 31 of the pivot pin 29, thereby retaining this pin assembled in the opening 36 of the bearing 22 and by which the door panel 10 is sus- 3 pended from the track 14. This track is afiixed to the top 43 of the door frame by screws 18.

The L-shaped metal bracket 16 of the lower jamb bracket assembly 15 has a vertical leg 44 secured to the side jamb A by fastening means such as screws 18, and the horizontal leg 45 is of substantially tubular form being longitudinally recessed to provide an enclosure receiving the lower bearing 46 and an underlying bearing plate 47, and its upper surface provided with an elongated narrow slot 48 opening at its outer end into an enlarged openended slot 49 in the upper surface. The bearing 46 is formed of a suitable plastic composition such as nylon and comprises a body portion 51 having its underside slotted at 52 and provided with an arcuate slot 53 adjacent one end extending therethrough receiving a machine screw 54 projecting through the arcuate slot 53 with the head of the screw and a washer received in the inner end of the elongated slot 48 and threaded into the threaded opening 55 to the bearing plate 47 with the end of the screw projecting into the slot defined by the inturned flanges 56 forming the base of the horizontal leg 45 of the jamb bracket 16.

The lower bearing 46 at its other end is provided with spaced legs or bifurcations 57 and 58 each having inwardly inclined surfaces tapering to a reduced end 59 with an inwardly inclined side 61 defining a tapered slot leading into an arcuate opening 62 for receiving a pivot pin 63 depending centrally from a pivot plate 64 affixed by screws 18 to the lower edge of the door panel at its inner end. The arcuate portion 65 which defines the arcuate opening 62 is elevated or formed as an embossment. The pivot pin 63 has an annular flange 66 at its upper end below the pivot plate 64 which flange seats upon the arcuate embossment 65 with the pivot pin 63 depending into the arcuate opening 62.

The bearing plate 47 has an embossment 67 received in a recess 68 in the underside of the lower bearing 46, and serrations 69 for retaining the bearing 46 and bearing plate 47 assembled.

When the pivot pin 63 is assembled in the opening 62, it is moved laterally and guided inwardly by the tapered or inclined sides until it enters the throat of the opening 62, causing the bifurcations to spread and retaining the pivot pin 63 in this opening. This is readily accomplished in view of the flexibility of the plastic material and the provision of a longitudinal slot 71 and opposed slots 72 formed in the opposite sides of the lower bearing 46.

A rubber block 73 is disposed in the track 14 between the door panels 11, 11, providing a bumper against which the guide member or roller 20 abuts when the door panel or panels 11 are moved to closed, co-planar position.

In the lower jamb bracket assembly the embossment or arcuate portion 65 receiving the depending pivot pin 63 projects upwardly through the slot 49 in the horizontal leg 45 of the bracket 16, and the attaching screw 54 projects through the slot 48, arcuate slot 53 in the bearing 46 and is threaded into a threaded opening 55 in the underlying bearing plate 47, with the projected end of the screw adapted to be received in the longitudinal slot formed between the base flanges 56. The arcuate slot 53 permits limited movement or adjustment of the bearing 46 in the leg 45 of the bracket 16.

Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim:

1. A folding door assembly suspended from an overhead track comprising plural folding door panels hingedly connected together in an access opening for an enclosure, the end door panel having a pivot pin projecting upwardly from the upper end of said end panel adjacent the inner edge thereof and terminating at its upper end in an annular flange and a pivot pin depending from the lower end of said end panel adjacent the inner edge thereof upon which this end door panel is pivotally mounted, an upper bearing supported in said track and having a body provided with a ledge at one end of the body having an opening and an aligned open-ended slot receiving the upwardly projecting pivot pin, said ledge having an annular groove thereon conformably receiving said annular flange, a spring clip for tensionally retaining the last mentioned pivot pin in its slot, said spring clip being anchored at one end in the bearing opposite the ledge and at its opposite end provided with an offset engaging the top and edge of the annular flange of the upper pivot pin, a bearing bracket assembly including a bearing bracket having a vertical leg aflixed to a side jamb defining one side of the access opening adjacent the floor and a horizontal leg projecting beneath the lower end of the door adjacent the jamb and providing a tubular part having a longitudinal slot therein, a pivot plate affixed to the bottom end of the door panel and provided with the depending pivot pin projecting into the slot in the horizontal leg of the bearing bracket, a lower bearing mounted within the horizontal leg, said lower bearing having one end bifurcated to provide spaced legs communicating with an arcuate opening for receiving and retaining the depending pivot pin, said spaced legs adapted to be flexed apart when said depending pivot pin is inserted laterally and guided by said spaced legs into said arcuate opening.

2. A folding door assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the lower bearing is provided with an embossment at one end projecting through the slot of the bearing bracket to receive the depending pivot pin.

3. In a folding door assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the other door panel has a guide plate aflixed to the top thereof adjacent its outer edge and provided with a guide roller projecting upwardly into the channel of the track for guiding this other door panel when moved to open position with the door panels in folded relation and to closed position with the door panels in aligned, co-planar relation.

4. In a folding door assembly suspended from an overhead track, a pivotal mounting at the upper end of one of a pair of folding door panels in said track with the one panel pivotally mounted at its lower end, comprising a bearing mounted within and retained in the track and provided with a central elongated recess therein, a ledge at one end of said bearing having an open-ended slot opening into said central recess for receiving and mounting a pivot pin, a pivot plate mounted on the upper end of said one door panel adjacent an edge thereof and provided with an upstanding pivot pin having an annular flange on its upper end, said ledge having an annular groove in the upper surface thereof around the openended slot to conformably receive said annular flange, and a spring clip anchored at one end in the end of the bearing opposite the ledge, and the other end of the spring clip provided with an offset tensionally engaging the top and edge of the annular flange on the pivot pin for retaining the latter in the open-ended slot in the bearing.

5. A bracket assembly for folding door panels, comprising a bracket having a vertical part anchored to a side of an access opening in which the door panels are mounted and a horizontal extension positioned adjacent the floor immediately below the lower end of a door panel pivotally mounted at its upper end, said horizontal extension having a slotted tubular part, a bearing member adjustably mounted in said tubular part, said bearing member comprising a resilient plastic body having at one end spaced bifurcations with inwardly converging sides adapted to be spread apart for access to an arcuate opening in the bearing member, an upper embossment on said plastic body defining the arcuate opening and extending upward through the slot in the horizontal tubular body, and a pivot pin depending from the bottom of the pivot ally mounted door panel and laterally movable into said slot in the horizontal tubular part and between said bifurcations and into the arcuate opening and upper embossment for pivotally mounting the lower end of said door panel in the bearing member.

6. A bracket assembly as set forth in claim 5, including a bearing plate conformably received in said horiof the member opposite the bifurcations, and securing means extending through said arcuate slot and engaging the bearing plate to adjustably mount the bearing member relative to the bearing plate, said bearing plate having a serrated surface engaging the underside of said bearing member.

7. A bracket assembly as set forth in claim 6, in which said bearing member has a recess in the underside thereof, and an embossment on the bearing plate received in the recess in the bearing member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID J. WILLIAMDWSKY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

4. IN A FOLDING DOOR ASSEMBLY SUSPENDED FROM AN OVERHEAD TRACK, A PIVOTAL MOUNTING AT THE UPPER END OF ONE OF A PAIR OF FOLDING DOOR PANELS IN SAID TRACK WITH THE ONE PANEL PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ITS LOWER END, COMPRISING A BEARING MOUNTED WITHIN AND RETAINED IN THE TRACK AND PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL ELONGATED RECESS THEREIN, A LEDGE AT ONE END OF SAID BEARING HAVING AN OPEN-ENDED SLOT OPENING INTO SAID CENTRAL RECESS FOR RECEIVING AND MOUNTING A PIVOT PIN, A PIVOT PLATE MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAID ONE DOOR PANEL ADJACENT AN EDGE THEREOF AND PROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING PIVOT PIN HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE ON ITS UPPER END, SAID LEDGE HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE IN THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF AROUND THE OPENENDED SLOT TO CONFORMABLY RECEIVE SAID ANNULAR FLANGE, AND A SPRING CLIP ANCHORED AT ONE END IN THE END OF THE BEARING OPPOSITE THE LEDGE, AND THE OTHER END OF THE SPRING CLIP PROVIDED WITH AN OFFSET TENSIONALLY ENGAGING THE TOP AND EDGE OF THE ANNULAR FLANGE ON THE PIVOT PIN FOR RETAINING THE LATTER IN THE OPEN-ENDED SLOT IN THE BEARING. 